Merran Findlay, AdvAPD of The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, discusses patient care and access to specialist dietitians. Specialist dietitians work as part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with the nurses, doctors and speech pathologists, forming a core part of patient care. There is high-quality evidence that patients require access to a specialist dietitian earlier on, both prior and during treatment, during radiation, and then fortnightly post-treatment, for as long as required until the nutrition status of the patient is maintained. There are a range of options available, ranging from oral nutrition support, to high protein/high energy strategies that maximize their energy and protein intake. Some patients will need the texture of their diet modified, usually if they are unable to swallow or chew their food. Patients may also need advice if they require a feeding tube, or even if they want to manage their own nutrition needs. Dietetic care can be quite varied, depending on the nature and extent of the disease, also depending on the degree of treatment that the patient is undergoing. She mentions that typically feeding tubes are temporary, but the importance of it is to ensure that patients are well-nourished and out of hospital. For some patients, it may be a long-term requirement, but it is entirely dependable on how much surgery they have had, or the complications that have arisen, highlighting the importance for patients to constantly be in contact with a dietitian. Recorded at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and International Society of Ocular Oncology (ISOO) 2016 Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer held in Adelaide, Australia.
